The Federal

4.6

985 Reviews

$50 and over

Steakhouse

Make a booking

2 people

15 Mar 2025

19:00

Booked 21 times today

Good for business meals
Good for special occasions
Fancy

The Federal is an exciting seafood and chophouse with scratch-made, chef driven modern Italian inspired food. The restaurant is upscale, affordable, comfortable, and relaxed.

Come and explore our wine list where new age and old world meet. Our wine list is curated by co-owner/managing partner David Alphonse and features wines from around the world with a focus on Italian and old world selections. We have a great selection of new world wines as well.

We feature two adjoining private dining rooms and a seasonal covered patio.

Located in Waltham, MA in the Market Basket Plaza, we look forward to serving you soon.

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
$50 and over
Cuisines
Steakhouse, Italian, Contemporary Italian
Hours of Operation
Lunch Fri 11:30 am–4:00 pm Dinner Tue–Thu 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
Phone number
(781) 373-1245
Website
http://the-federalrestaurant.com/
Payment Options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Business Casual
Executive Chef
Joel Portillo
Private party facilities
Please contact Erika@the-federalrestaurant.com regarding any private events! We have plenty of versatile indoor and outdoor space available for parties of all sizes.

Location
74 Tower Rd, Waltham, MA 02451-1022
Area
Waltham
Cross Street
Main Street
Parking details
Public Lot
Public transit
Bus Route 70, Main Shopping Center @ Marshall's stop
Additional
Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Outdoor Firepit, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Vegan

Popular dishes

CharcuterieUS$25.00
Assorted Italian Meats, House Marinated Olives, Cornichons, Local Jam & Garlic Toast
Cheese BoardUS$25.00
Hand Selected by Our Friends at Wasik's Cheese Shop
Crab CakesUS$21.00
Remoulade & Lemon
Steak TartareUS$19.00
Cognac Mustard, Capers, Onion, Parsley, Cornichons & Toasted Baguette
CarpaccioUS$18.00
Pecorino Cheese, Arugula, Capers & Extra Virgin Olive Oil
RockefellerUS$27.00
Six Oysters Baked with Spinach, Parmesan Cheese & Pernod Anise Liquor
Shrimp SkewersUS$17.00
Brushed With Scampi Sauce
EscargotUS$19.00
Baked in garlic-parsley and Pernod anise liquor served with olive oil baguette
Clams CasinoUS$18.00
Eight Littleneck Clams Baked w/ Bacon, Garlic & Parmesan Breadcrumbs
CalamariUS$17.00
Cherry Peppers & Pomodoro Sauce

Raw Bar

Add 1 Shrimp $4, Add 1 Oyster $4, Add 1 Littleneck Clam $2

Oysters (6)US$24.00
Cocktail Sauce & Champagne Mignonette
Shrimp Cocktail (6)US$24.00
Cocktail Sauce & Fresh Lemon
Tuna TartareUS$19.00
Cucumber, Avocado, Seaweed Salad & Citrus Vinaigrette
Crabmeat CocktailUS$29.00
Jumbo Lump Crabmeat & English Mustard Sauce
Chilled Lobster TailUS$35.00
Cocktail Sauce & Lemon
Shellfish TowerUS$115.00
Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail, Lobster Tails, Local Oysters, Littleneck Clams & Jumbo Lump Crabmeat
Littleneck Clams (8)US$16.00
6 fresh shucked littleneck clams

Salads & Soup

Onion SoupUS$11.00
Classic French Onion Style Soup with Broiled Baguette and Cheese
ChowderUS$11.00
Caesar SaladUS$12.00
White Anchovies, Garlic Croutons & Parmesan Cheese
Wedge SaladUS$13.00
Bacon, Cherry Tomatoes & Blue Cheese
Mixed GreensUS$12.00
Aged Balsamic Vinaigrette, Cherry Tomatoes, Red Onion, Cucumber, Shredded Carrots, Radishes, Garlic Parmesan Crouton
Prosciutto & BurrataUS$22.00
Sliced Prosciutto di Parma, Fresh Burrata, Red Wine Poached Pear, Arugula & EVOO
Beet & Goat CheeseUS$14.00
Red and Golden Beets, Fried Goat Cheese, Pistachio Nuts, Arugula, & Citrus Vinegarette

Entrees

VongoleUS$25.00
Littleneck Clams, Garlic & White Wine
BologneseUS$25.00
Veal & Wild Boar Ragu, Rigatoni & Parmesan Reggiano
OrecchietteUS$27.00
Orecchiette Pasta, Sausage Crumble, Broccolini & Chili Flakes
Genovese PrimaveraUS$24.00
Basil Fusilli Pasta & Seasonal Vegetables
HaddockUS$36.00
Olive Oil Crushed Potatoes, Asparagus & Herb Lemon Butter
SalmonUS$29.00
Mashed Potatoes, Broccolini & Pinot Noir Sauce
Baked Stuffed ShrimpUS$40.00
Five Baked Crab Stuffed Shrimp, Drawn Butter, Lemon & Aparagus
TunaUS$42.00
Sweet Potato Puree, Gingered Bok Choy & Wasabi Aioli
SwordfishUS$36.00
Shrimp, Baby Spinach, Cherry Tomatoes, Scampi Sauce
HalibutUS$45.00
Herb Lemon Butter Sauce, Basil Fusilli, & Cherry Tomatoes
Brick ChickenUS$28.00
Roasted Fingerling Potatoes, Asparagus & Arneis Beurre Blanc
Pork ChopUS$38.00
Soft Polenta, Red Wine Poached Pear & Pork Jus
Skirt Steak FritesUS$38.00
Garlic Butter & Parm French Fries
Vegan PlateUS$26.00
Portobello, Black Bean Salad, Grilled Tomato, Seasonal Vegetables, Broccolini & Asparagus

Chops

8oz FiletUS$48.00
NY SirloinUS$55.00
Au Poivre NYUS$57.00
Dry Aged Bone-InUS$58.00
16oz Bone-In NY Sirloin (will be rarer towards bone, consider Boneless Sirloin if ordering over Medium temperature)
DelmonicoUS$55.00
CowboyUS$58.00

Sides

Zucchini & Summer SquashUS$10.00
Roasted Fingerling PotatoesUS$9.00
Sautéed BroccoliniUS$12.00
Garlic Butter, Chili Flakes & Sea Salt
Sautéed Wild MushroomsUS$13.00
Roasted Cipollini Onions & Herb Oil
Grilled AsparagusUS$12.00
Sea Salt & Olive Oil
Parmesan PolentaUS$10.00
Soft White Polenta with Cream & Parmesan
Creamed SpinachUS$12.00
Parmesan Croutons
Yukon Mashed PotatoesUS$9.00
Garlic Confit & Chive Butter
Kennebec French FriesUS$7.00
Kennebec Truffle FriesUS$9.00
Fries w/ Parmesan Cheese and Black Truffle Oil
Bone MarrowUS$11.00

Additional Sauces

Armagnac SauceUS$2.00
BéarnaiseUS$2.00
Demi-GlaceUS$2.00
Horseradish CremaUS$2.00
Lemon Rosemary Sea SaltUS$2.00
Maitre d'ButterUS$2.00
Herbed Garlic Butter
Steak SauceUS$2.00
Truffle Sea SaltUS$2.00

Chef's Specials

Friday: Catch of the DayUS$46.00
Friday: Beef WellingtonUS$55.00
Friday Special - Individual Puff Pastry Wrapped Filet w/ Liver and Mushroom Duxelle. Medium Rare Only

What 985 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6

4.6 based on recent ratings

4.5Food
4.7Service
4.5Ambience
4.2Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

The Federal offers a delightful dining experience with "great food and excellent service." Known for its "outstanding tuna" and "delicious entrees," it's a favorite for special occasions. The ambiance is "warm and inviting," complemented by a "massive steak au poivre." Attentive staff like Amanda and Mariah enhance the experience.

985 Reviews

OT
OpenTable Diner
Greater Boston1 review
5.0
Dined 1 day ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The food was fantastic but nothing compared to the waitress. I took my fiancée for his birthday and we will definitely be making this a regular date night spot. Can’t wait to return!
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P
Patricia VIP
Greater Boston4 reviews
3.0
Dined on 1 March 2025
1. Overall 3
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 2
The decor was subpar. Not a very comfortable setting
Is this helpful?
D
Denise
Greater Boston48 reviews
5.0
Dined on 22 February 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Excellent experience! It was our first time here. The ambiance, service and food were all very good! We enjoyed crab cakes starter, entrees of filet mignon with the mashed Yukon gold potatoes, halibut with rainbow carrots and dessert of real (no green dye or almond extract overload here) pistachio gelato and after dinner drinks of Salted Caramel Biscotti martini and Chocolate Hazelnut. All delicious and visually pleasing! Will return and keep in mind for a group gathering too.
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B
BELLA
Caribbean1 review
3.0
Dined on 14 February 2025
1. Overall 3
2. Food 2
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 3
Service was great! Tables need some light in order to see the menus. Food was good but mashed potatoes were cold. We would go back.
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P
Pamela
Greater Boston22 reviews
5.0
Dined on 14 February 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
First time at the Federal. We had a reservation for a table, but chose to sit at the bar. We dined during the lunch menu. Our bartenders Luke and AJ were attentive, professional, and polite. We started with the shellfish tower, which was good. We then ordered the Prime French dip sandwich and that was extraordinary, and the Kennebec Truffle fries with Parmesan and black truffle oil. The portion was just right and they were out of this world. I had their Sangria which is perfectly made. The owners’s own recipe. I’ve tried a lot of sangrias over the years but this ranks top two for me. We will definitely go back. Next time we will try the steak. I was just trying to make a reservation there for Easter but it looks like they are closed on Sundays, unfortunately.
The FederalResponded on 15 February 2025
Pamela, Thanks for the great review! We are not accepting reservations yet for Easter Sunday but will next week. We are closed Sundays as a rule but do open for major holidays. Best, Richard
1 person found this helpful
J
JEAN-FRANÇOIS
Los Angeles12 reviews
5.0
Dined on 7 February 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great food and wine selection. Both the duck and steak were amazing. It was slightly overpriced though - probably 10-15% above
1 person found this helpful
J
John
Greater Boston5 reviews
5.0
Dined on 1 February 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Three of us went to dinner and two had the steak, one the dry aged bone in cooked medium rare and the other the cowboy cooked medium. The last had haddock with risotto and asparagus. We added mashed potatoes and asparagus for sides and finished off dinner with tiramisu. When I tell you it was one of the best experiences we’ve had dining out in a long time, I’m not kidding. Our server, Amanda was knowledgeable, attentive and overall wonderful. We’ll definitely be back!
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S
Steve
Nashville9 reviews
5.0
Dined on 28 January 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
Had a wonderful meal at The Federal. Pro tip: don't pass on the short rib.
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Z
ZITA
Greater Boston311 reviews
5.0
Dined on 18 January 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
The Federal offers an extensive menu providing something for any palate. The portions are substantial and DELICIOUS! The cocktails are excellent~ Our server was Dan, he’s outstanding. He’s helpful, he knows the menu and the how the entrees are prepared, he’s attentive and so gracious ~
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L
Lisa
Greater Boston2 reviews
5.0
Dined on 10 January 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Excellent all around! We all loved it, the food was great as well as the waitress and ambience!
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FAQs

The Federal offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (781) 373-1245.

The Federal is rated 4.6 stars by 985 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people

15 Mar 2025

19:00

Booked 21 times today

Order delivery or takeout

74 Tower Rd, Waltham, MA 02451-1022

Additional information

Cross Street
Main Street
Area
Waltham
Hours of Operation
Lunch Fri 11:30 am–4:00 pm Dinner Tue–Thu 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
Price
$50 and over
Cuisines
Steakhouse, Italian, Contemporary Italian
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Business Casual
Parking details
Public Lot
Public transit
Bus Route 70, Main Shopping Center @ Marshall's stop
Payment Options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive Chef
Joel Portillo
Additional
Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Outdoor Firepit, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Vegan

Website
http://the-federalrestaurant.com/
Phone number
(781) 373-1245
Private party facilities
Please contact Erika@the-federalrestaurant.com regarding any private events! We have plenty of versatile indoor and outdoor space available for parties of all sizes.

The Federal

Make a booking

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

Steak Tartare

Swordfish

Tuna Tartare

Starters

CharcuterieUS$25.00

Cheese BoardUS$25.00

Crab CakesUS$21.00

Steak TartareUS$19.00

CarpaccioUS$18.00

RockefellerUS$27.00

Shrimp SkewersUS$17.00

EscargotUS$19.00

Clams CasinoUS$18.00

CalamariUS$17.00

Raw Bar

Oysters (6)US$24.00

Shrimp Cocktail (6)US$24.00

Tuna TartareUS$19.00

Crabmeat CocktailUS$29.00

Chilled Lobster TailUS$35.00

Shellfish TowerUS$115.00

Littleneck Clams (8)US$16.00

Salads & Soup

Onion SoupUS$11.00

ChowderUS$11.00

Caesar SaladUS$12.00

Wedge SaladUS$13.00

Mixed GreensUS$12.00

Prosciutto & BurrataUS$22.00

Beet & Goat CheeseUS$14.00

Entrees

VongoleUS$25.00

BologneseUS$25.00

OrecchietteUS$27.00

Genovese PrimaveraUS$24.00

HaddockUS$36.00

SalmonUS$29.00

Baked Stuffed ShrimpUS$40.00

TunaUS$42.00

SwordfishUS$36.00

HalibutUS$45.00

Brick ChickenUS$28.00

Pork ChopUS$38.00

Skirt Steak FritesUS$38.00

Vegan PlateUS$26.00

Chops

8oz FiletUS$48.00

NY SirloinUS$55.00

Au Poivre NYUS$57.00

Dry Aged Bone-InUS$58.00

DelmonicoUS$55.00

CowboyUS$58.00

Sides

Zucchini & Summer SquashUS$10.00

Roasted Fingerling PotatoesUS$9.00

Sautéed BroccoliniUS$12.00

Sautéed Wild MushroomsUS$13.00

Grilled AsparagusUS$12.00

Parmesan PolentaUS$10.00

Creamed SpinachUS$12.00

Yukon Mashed PotatoesUS$9.00

Kennebec French FriesUS$7.00

Kennebec Truffle FriesUS$9.00

Bone MarrowUS$11.00

Additional Sauces

Armagnac SauceUS$2.00

BéarnaiseUS$2.00

Demi-GlaceUS$2.00

Horseradish CremaUS$2.00

Lemon Rosemary Sea SaltUS$2.00

Maitre d'ButterUS$2.00

Steak SauceUS$2.00

Truffle Sea SaltUS$2.00

Chef's Specials

Friday: Catch of the DayUS$46.00

Friday: Beef WellingtonUS$55.00